Cone-cup-dispensing machine



Dec. 7 1926.

W. A. SM|TH CONE CUP DISPENSING MACHINE Filed June 20 1921 ATTV.

'Patented Dec. 7, 1926, I I.

UNITED STATES 1,609,581 PATENT /OFFICE,

WEIWOR'IH A. SMITH, OF ORILI.IA, ONTABIO, CANAIDA, ASSIGNOR, BY IESNEA8- SIGNMEN'IS, TO VORTEX MIG. C0., OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATIONOF ILII- NOIS.

Application nied June 20,

This invention relatos to machines for dispensing paper cups and withrespect to 1ts more specific features to machmes of the characterreferred to adapted to d1spense o conical paper cups from a column ofnested cups.

provision of a practical dispenser for the purpose which will bereliable in action, of 1 strong and relatively inexpensive constructionand which will not injure the cups.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a simple andpractical mechanism which will operate in an efficient manner all thoughthe cups vary slightly in dimension,

and in which the effect of erroneous positioning of the cups for thedispensing operation is minimized.

Other objects of the invention will be in part obvious and will in partappear hereinafter.

The invention .accordingly comprises the features of construct1on,combmat1ons of elements, and arrangement of parts, which will beexemplified in the construction hereinafter set forth and the scope ofthe application of which will be indicated in the claims. In theaccompanying drawing forming a part of this specification, and in whichsimilar reference characters refer to,similar parts throughout theseveral views,

F ig. 1 is a top plan view of my improved dispensing apparatus; V

Fig. 2 a plan view of the same, partly in section;

Fig. 3 a side elevation, partly in section; and

Fig. 4a similar view on an enlarged scale, partly broken away andillustrating in full and. dotted lines two different positions of theparts of the apparatus.

1 is a frame having a central opening thercin through which the concdcups 2 pass. v Round this opening islocated the support for the columnof ne:ted cups consisting of a series of spring fingers 3. It will benoted that these spring fingers are connected at one end to the frame,extend upwardly and then downwardly, the vertically extending, partsbeing substantially in parallelism. The free end of each spring isformed with an .inwardl v turned lip 4;to ehgage the nest of cups. Ifind that with this arrangement of the holding means for the cups that asingle cup One of the objects of the invention i the CONE-CUP-DISPENSINGMACHINE.

1921. serla.l\l lo. 479,098.

may be drawn away even though the cups are not all of the same diameterand though thenest may not have its axis exactly vertical, the remainingcups being firmly held.

To draw ofl:' the cups one by one I provide the followingcup drawingmechanism. Two :dependin'g oscillatable sw1n 'ng, arms 5 are the channelor chamber formed by the op posite sides of the arm, are slots 7 intowhich projects the pin 8 pass1ng through the rod 6. Flat Springs 19 aresecured by. theirupper ends to the arms. 5 asindicated at 26:and

each is formed with a Ing 20 through Which the adjacent rod 6 passos.

The arms 5 are yieldingly impelledaround their pivotal axes 25 indirections-to move the cup grippers 12 away from the cup column, by thebent springs 9 secured to any suitable part. I show these Springs assecured to the bail 10, the arrangement and functions of which will behereinafter described. Bent springs 11 are provided, each connected atone end with one of the rods 6 and at the other end to a suitablestationary part, such, for example, as the pvot 25 of the arm carryingthe particular rod with which it is engaged. These spr1ngs tend toretain the rods in the position preliminary to their cup drawing stroke,as shown in Fig. 3 and in full lines in Fig. 4.

To each rod is secured a stripper or cup gripper 12, which is suitablyshaped to engage the round'ed tapering sides of the cups and which ispreferably, though not necessarily, provided with rubber snrfaces forfrictional engagemerit with and gripping of the cups. The bail 10 ispivoted on lugs 13 formed on or connected to the frame 1, and its freeends are adapted to wipe over the shoulders provided by the rollers 14journalled on the arms 5. By rocking the bail therefore it is evidentthat the arms may be swung inwardly to cause the grippers or strippers12 to engage and grip the sides of tinued movement of the bail pressesthe strippers dowhwardl v and causes them to'strip off the lowermostcup. The upper walls of the slots in the rods move into contactwith thepins 16 to thrust the grippers 12 downwardly, the slots in the rods 15guidingt these rods during the interval of necessary lost motion topermitof theinward swing of thestrippers taking place before theirdownward movement. The springs 19 yieldingly maintain the strippers inengagement with the cups. r

The bail is operated by the plunger 17 passing through an opening in theplate and pivotally connected with one of the free ends of the bail. Aspring 18 secured to the frame and engaging over one of the arms of thebail tends to return the bail to its normal position as soon as theplunger is released. On the return of the bail to its normal position,the springs 9 and 11 return the arms 5 and the strippers 12 to theirnormal inoperative position.

From the above description it will be per ceived that the grippercarrying members, or rods 6 are supported and guided respectively by thepvot arms 5, and are operatively connected to said arms so that thegrippers are moved by the arms toward and from the outer surface of thelateral wall of the column of cups, the rods 6 also having reciprocalmovement relative to the arms 5 both transversely of -the pivotal axes25 of said arms and transversely of the reciprocal movement of the rods6 on the arms 5. By this construction the grippers 12 are moved by thearms 5 toward the cup to be drawn and may be moved by the cup drawingrods 15 longitudinally of the axis of the column of cups to effect cupdrawing. TVhen the cup grippers, on their cup approaching movement, meetthe cup, the springs 19 cooperate to cause the cup to be gripped withresilient gripping effect, and furthermore, during cup drawing, thesesprings resiliently oppose movement of the rods 6, and consequently ofthe grippers, transversely of the drawing movement, so as to maintainthe grippers in frictional contact with the cup during cup drawing. Inthis wise the gripper may follow up the cup wall should the wall yield,and the cup grippers are also impelled by the springs 19 furtherinwardly so as to contact the conical wall of the cup further downshould the grippers by any possibility slip longitudinally of the cup.

The bail 10 constitutes a power member to actuate the arms 5 on theirpivotal axes and to cause the cup drawing stroke of the rods 6transversely of said axes. When the bail is power actuated, as bydepressing the plunger or key 17, the arms of the bail wipe against theshoulders or cam' portions of the arms 5 formed by the rollers 14, andthus force the arms 5 toward the column of cups. Following these cupapproaching movements of the grippers, the recproca] cup drawing rods 15contact the abutments or pins 16 on the rod 6 and cause the latter, andthe grippers therewith, to make cup drawing strokes, the springs 11subsequently' moving the rods 6 in the direction opposite to their cupdrawing movement so as to position the grippers for a subsequent cupgripping and cup drawing stroke.

What I claim as my invention is 1. A dispenser for cups of the characterdescribed including, in combination, a support for a column of nestedcups, means adapted frictionally to grip and to draw cups from saidColumn including a cup gripper, an arm oscillatable on a stationary axistransversely of the longitudinal axis of said column, means oporativelyconnecting said gripper to said arm for movement of said gripper towardand from the outer surface of the lateral wall of the cup to be drawn,and for permitting cup drawing movement of said gripper relative to saidarm, a roller on said arm, and a pivoted bail adapted to co-act withsaid roller to oscillate said arm and to effect said cup drawingmovement of said gripper.

2. A dispenser for cups of the character described including, incombination, a support for a column of nested cups, means adaptedfrictionally to grip and to draw cups from said column including a cupgripper, an arm oscillatable on a stationary axis transversely of thelongitudinal axis of said column, means including a gripper carryingmember having reciprocal movement relative to said arm transversely ofthe axis of oscillation of said arm, operatively connecting said grippcrto said arm for movement of said gripper toward and from the outersurface of the lateral wall of the cup to be drawn, and a unitarymechanism to oscillate said arm, to bring said grip into contact with acup and subsequently to efi'ect said transverse relative movement ofsaid gripper to exert withdrawing action on the cup.

3. A dispenser for cups of the character described including, incombination, a support for a column of neste'd cups, means adaptedfrictionally to grip and to draw cups from said column including a cupgripper, an arm oscillatable transversely of the longitudinal axis ofsaid column, means in cluding a gripper carrying member havingreciprocal movement relative to said arm transversely of the axis ofoscillation of said arm, operatively connecting said gr1pper to said armfor movement of said gr1pper toward and from the outer surface of thelateral wall of the cup to be drawn, and means adapted to oscillate saidarm and to effect said re'ciprocal movement of said member, said membercomprising a rod Supported by and guided on said arm.

4. A dispenser for cups of the character described including, incombination, a support for a column of nested cups, a nd mechanismadapted frictionally to gr1p and to draw cups from said column includinga pivoted arm, a cup gripper, a gripper carry1ng member reciprocallymovable on said arm transversely of the pivotal axis of said arm, meansincluding a power member adapted to actuate said arm to efl'ect movementof the arm on its pivotal axis toward the cup to be drawn and to causesubsequently the cup drawing stroke of said member transversely of saidpivotal axis.

5. A. dispenser for cups of the character described including, incombination, a support for a column of nested cu s, frictional rippingmechanism for with rawing cups %rom said column, including a pivotedarm, a roller thereon a cup gripper, a grippef carrying member mounteupon said pivoted arm for movement thereon to and from gripping relationwith a cup and for cup withdra'wing movement transversely to 1ts cupgripping movement, a resilient connection between said pivoted arm andsaid gripper carrying member and a unitary operating mechanism adaptedto be operated to engage said roller to swing said pivoted arm, andthereby bring said gripper into yielding contact with a cu andsubsequently to impart said 'cup with, rawing movement thereto.

6. A dispenser for cups of the character described including, incombination, a support for a column of nested cups, and mechanismadapted to grip and to draw cups from said column including a pivotedarm, a roller thereon, a cup gripper, a gripper carrying memberreciprocally movable on said arm transversely of the pivotal axis ofsaid arm, means including a p1voted bail adapted to engage said rollerto actuate said arm to effect movement of the arm on itspivotal axistoward the cup to be drawn and to cause the cup drawing stroke of saidgripper carrying member transversely of said pivotal axis, said lastmentioned means including an abutment on said carrying member, and areciprocal rod actuated into and out of operativo contact with saidabutment adapted to efl'ect said cup drawing stroke.

7 A dispenser for cups of the character describedincluding, incombination, a support for a column of nested cups, and mechanismadapted to grip and to draw cups from said column including a pivotedarm,

cup drawing stroke of said gripper carrying 4 member transversely ofsaid pivotal axis, said last mentioned means including an abutment onsaid carrying member, and a reciprocal rodactuated into and out ofoperative con tact with said abutment .adapte;l to effect said cupdrawing stroke, said rod being con nected to be reciprocated by saidpower member.

8. A dispenser for cups of the character described including, incombination, a support for a column of nested cups, and mechmism adaptedto grip and to draw cups from said column including a pivoted arm, aroller thereon, a cup gripper, a gripper carrying member mounted uponsaid arm for a cup withdrawing stroke thereon transversely of thepivotally axis of said arm means including a pivoted member, a plungerfor operating the same t o cause said pivoted member to co-act with saidroller to actuate said arm to eflect movement of the arm on its pivotalaxis transversely of the longitudinal axis of said column toward the cupto be drawn and to cause the cup drawing stroke of said carrying member,and a spring for effecting the return stroke of said carrying member.

9. A dispenser for cups of the character described including, incombination, a su port for a column of nested cups, and mee -anismadapted to grip and to draw cups from said column including a pivotedarm, a cup gripper, a gripper carrying member mountecl upon said arm fora cup withdrawing stroke thereon transversely of the p1votal axis ofsaid arm, means including a power member adapted to actuate said arm toeffect movement of the arm on its pivotal axis toward the cup to bedrawn and to cause the cup drawing stroke of said carrying member, and aspring to efl'ect movement of said arm away from the path of the cups.

10. A dispenser for cups of the character described including, incombination, a support for a column of nested cups, and mechanismadaptcd to grip and to draw cups from said column including a pivotedarm, a cup gripper, a gripper carrying member mounted upon said arm fora cup withdrawing stroke thereon transversely of the pivotal axis ofsaid arm, means including a power member'adapted to aotuate said arm toeffect movement of the arm on its pivotal axis toward the cup to bedrawn and lll) to cause the cup drawing stroke of said carrying member,a spring for efi"ecting the return stroke ot said carrying member, and aspring lo efi'ect movement of said arm away from the path of the cups.

ll. A dispenser for cups of the character described including, incombination, a sup port or a column of nested cups, and mechanis:nadapted to draw cups from said coluum including an arm osc1llatable on astationary axis transversely of the longitudinal axis of said column, acup gripper reciprocally movable on said arm transversely of the axis ofoscillation of said arm and movable relative to said arm transversely ofsaid reciprocal movement, and means including a power member adapted tooscillate said arm on its pivotal axis and efiect said recipro calmovement of said gripper.

12. A dispenser for cups of the character described including, incombination, a support for a column of nested cups, mechanism adapted togrip and to draw cups from said column including an oscillatable arm, africtional cup gripper reciprocally movable on said arm transversel ofthe axis ot oscillation of said arm an movable relative to said armtransversely of said reciprocal movement, means including a power memberadapted to oscillate said arm on its pivotal axis and effect saidreciprocal movement of said gripper, and a spring, carried by said arm,in position resiliently to oppose said movement of said gr1ppertransversely of said reciprocal movement during cup drawing.

13. A dispenser for cups of the character described including, incombination, a support for a column of nested cups, and mechanismadapted to grip and to draw cups from said column including anoscillatable arm, a cup gripper reciprocally movable on said armtransversely of the axis of oscillation of said arm and movable relativeto said arm transversely of said reciprocal movement adapted to effectcup drawing, and means, including a power member, adapted operatively towipe against and oscillate said arm on its pivotal axis and efi'ect saidreciprocal movement of said gripper.

14. A dispenser for cups of the character described including, incombination, a support for a column of nested cups, mechanism adapted togrip and to draw cups from said column including a pivoted arm having acam portion and a chamber, a gripper carrying rod having one endreciprocal in said chamher transversely of the pivotal axis ot said arm,means operatively connect ing said rod and arm permitting oscillatorymovement of the rod relative to said arm transrersely of said reciprocalmovement, a spring carried by said arm and adapted to contact the otherend of said rod thereby resiliently to urge the gripper against the cupduring cup drawing, means, including an oscillatable member adapted towipe against said cam and oscillate said arm on its pvot, a reciprocalrod connected to said oscillatable member for actuation, and means;including a lost motion connection, operatively coupling said carryingrod and said oscillatahle member, whereby cup drawing movement of s'aidgripper is efi'ected.

15. A dispenser for cups of the character described including, incombination, a plu rality of spring fingers dispsed to contact the outerwall of a column of nested cups and thereby support the column with theouter wall of the end cup exposed, and means adapted to draw cups fromsaid column including a cup drawing stripper, having a rubber cupstripping surface, oscillatable toward and from the outer side.wall

of the end cup of said column and toward and from the support formed bysaid fingets, and means adapted to oscillate said stripper including anarm pivoted for oscillation transversely of the longitudinal axis ofsaid end cup, and a rod, carrying said stripper, reciprocal on said armtoward and from said springs and toward and from said longitudinal axis.

16; A dispenser for cups of the character described including, incombination, a plu rality of spring fingers disposed to contact theouter wall of a column of nested cups and thereby support the columnwith the outer wall of the end cup exposed, means adapted to draw cupsfrom said column including a cup drawing stripper, having a rubber cupstripping surface, oscillatable toward and from the outer side wall ofthe end cup of said column and toward and from the support formed bysaid fingers, means adapted to oscillate said stripper including an armpivoted for oscillation transversely of the longitudinal axis of saidend cup, and a rod, carrying said stripper, reciprocal on said armtoward and from said splings and toward and from said longitudinal axis,and a spring monnted on said arm disposed resiliently to resistmove'ment of said rod relative to said arm away from said longitudinalaxis during cup drawing.

17. A dispenser for cups of the character described including, incombination, a plurality of spring fingers disposed to contact the outerwall of a column of nested cups and thereby support the column with theouter wall of the end cup exposed, means. adapted to draw cups from saidcolumn including a cup drawing stripper, having a rubber cup strippingsurface, oscillatable toward and from the outer side wall of the end cupof said column and toward and from the support formed by said fingers,means adapted to oscillate said stripper including an arm pivoted foroscillation transversely of the longitudinal axis of said end cup, and arod, carrying said stripper, reciprocal on said arm toward and'from saidsprings and toward and from,said longitudinal axis, and an oscillatablepower actuated the outer wall of a column of nested cups and therebysupport the column with the outer wall of the-end cup exposed, means.adapted to draw cups from said column including a cup drawing stripper,having a rubber cup stripping surface, oscillatable toward and from theouter side wall of the end cup-of said column and toward and from thesupport formed by said fingers, means adapted to oscillate said stripperincluding an arm pivoted for dscillation transversely of thelongitudinal axis of said end cup, a rod, carrying said stripper,reciprocal on said arm toward and from said springs and toward and fromsaid longitudinal axis, an oscillatable power actuated member, said armand member having wiping parts adapted to cooperate to eflect movementof said arm on its axis of oscillation to cause said stripper toapproach the end cup, and

means operatively coupled to said power actuated member and to saidstripper for effecting the cup drawing stroke of said rod;

19. A .dispenser for cups of the character described including, incombination, a pluralit'y of circumferentially spaced fingers adapted tocontact with the outer lateral wall of the end cup of a column of nestedconical cups and thereby support the column with the end cup exposed inposition to be gripped, the cup contacting ends of said fingers beingthin longitudinally of said column so as to permit the end cup to bedrawn from the column and leave the conical wall of the next adjacentcup lying across the corners of said fingers, a pair of cup grippershaving soft, frictional cup gripping faces, supported for movement onopposite sides of the cup path, means adapted to cause movements of saidgrippers toward the outer surface of the lateral wall of the endmost cupof said column and movement of the grippers simultaneously from saidsupport thereby to grasp said endmost cup and draw the same from saidcolumn, including rigid arms pivoted on stationary axes for oscillationtransversely of the longitudinal axis of said column, and grippercarrying members oscillatable with said arms, stationary relative tosaid arms in their oscillatory movement around said axes, and guided onsaid arms for cup drawing and reciprocal movements transversely of saidaxes.

20. A dispenser for cups of the diameter Y described including, incombination, a support for a column of nested cups including a frame, aring stationary on said frame having a plurality of inwardly projectingthin cup supporting fingers, and cup gripping and drawing mechanismincluding an arm pivoted on said frame, adapted to swing transversely ofthe cup path and having relatively stationary gripper guides, a carryingrod slidable on said guides transversely of the pivotal axis of said armand held against oscillatory movement relative to said arm around saidpivotal axis, a cup gripper movable with said rod, a crankcoupled tooscillate said arm and rod, and a spring operatively disposedresiliently to transmit thrust of said crank to said rod on the movementof said rod in onedirection around said pivotal axis. Signed at OrilliaMay, 1921.

WENTWORTH A. SMITH.

anada this -27 th day of

